Two More Illinois Counties Added to Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine

Published on December 10 2012 1:05 pm
Last Updated on July 14 2013 12:07 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

The Illinois Department of Agriculture has added two counties to its existing 39-county Emerald Ash Borer quarantine.

The boundary expansion became necessary this fall after infestations of the tree-killing beetle were confirmed for the first time in Henry and Knox counties.

The quarantine, which now covers 40% of the state, is intended to prevent the artificial or "human assisted" spread of the beetle through the movement of infested wood and nursery stock.

The Emerald Ash Borer is a small, metallic-green beetle native to Asia. Its larvae burrow into the bark of ash trees, causing the trees to starve and eventually die. Since the first detection of the pest in 2002, it has killed more than 25-million ash trees.

Signs of infestation include thinning and yellowing leaves, D-shaped holes in the bark of the trunk or branches, and basal shoots. Anyone who suspects an ash tree has been infested should contact their county Extension office, their village forester or the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Area counties included in the area are Clark, Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette and Shelby.